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LISA SCHULBERG
Best Theatre Principal and Best Youth Theatre Creative Director
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Lisa’s spent her lifetime in the arts and is passionate about the positive effects it can have on us all. In her teens Lisa supported herself working as a children’s entertainer – where she realised she loved working with young people and bringing them joy through performance and fun.
A full time musical theatre stage school kid, she then followed her dream of becoming an actress by gaining a 1st Class Hons degree in Theatre Arts, Performance and English at University then followed by a Masters in Acting at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, receiving the first post graduate full bursary funding. On graduating, Lisa toured extensively for 7 years across the UK and Europe in acting roles, from Shakespeare to Soap Opera, in Stratford Upon Avon and Manchester to London. Lisa’s career highlight was 100 shows playing Marianne Dashwood in the stage premier of Sense and Sensibility. Whilst building up her TV and film work, presenting for BBC London, and playing a lead in a British Television Award winning film, Lisa began teaching and directing.
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Lisa taught Acting, Voice Theory and LAMDA for Italia Conti for 8 years and has directed and run numerous youth theatres including Snap, Trestle, and our now twice National Theatre Connections selected Best Youth Theatre. Lisa has worked as a role actor and corporate workshop facilitator for over 20 years specialising in Conflict Management. Clients include the NHS, Barclays Bank, Tetra Pak and the Police.
After working on numerous mental health and wellbeing projects for theatre companies, councils and charities as a performer, writer, director and workshop facilitator Lisa set up Tip of the Iceberg Theatre Company in 2007, with the aim to involve, inform and inspire people to lead happier lives, her work and mental wellbeing and relationship projects have reached over ½ million young people.
Helping young people find themselves, find their voice and find their light through the performing arts for 25 years.
Meet The Team
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REBECCA BRILEY​
Head of Early Years, Best Beginners, Best Youth Theatre & Best School of Acting Teacher
Rebecca Briley is an Actor and Childrens' Entertainer, who trained in BA (hons) in Physical Theatre at East 15 Acting School, during which time she gained a range of skills including mask and mime, Theatre in Education, puppetry and movement but found a particular interest in storytelling and clowning.
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Since graduating, Beckie has performed across a variety of platforms including Film and TV as well as devising her own work for stage, and has collaborated with many theatre companies as an assistant choreographer. She has also been lucky enough to work with multiple TIE companies in the UK and in Italy, where she began to fall in love with teaching and facilitating specialised workshops for all ages.
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In 2013, Beckie became a member of ‘The Flying Seagull Project’, a UK based Children’s Charity whose aim is to spread joy and laughter to those who need it most across the globe through circus, clown and play. With several years of humanitarian clowning under her belt, she became a core team leader and facilitated activities for displaced children and families on the ground in Calais, Greece and Lebanon.
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CATHERINE LOMAX
​The Feelgood Factor Lead
​Catherine has worked both on-stage and behind the scenes as an Actor, Producer, Director and Writer. Having studied at the University of Hull she trained under Alan Ayckbourn at the Stephen Joseph Theatre and has worked in Theatre, TV and Film since graduating.
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Catherine has run her own touring theatre company and was the Artistic Director of the Gordon Craig Theatre for over ten years. She has experience of working on plays, pantomime and musicals as well as heading up a large education department working with young people aged between 3 and 18 years old.
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Catherine writes musicals with award-winning choreographer Khiley Williams and West End Musical Director Phil Dennis. Together they have written over twenty musicals that tour nationwide. She can be heard as one of the Showbiz panellist for BBC 3 Counties and is also one half of the Post Show Drinks Podcast interviewing team for Encore Radio in which West End stars spill all the behind the scenes tales.
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KHILEY WILLIAMS
LAMDA Lead
Khiley adores teaching and is passionate about the next generation of performers.
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As well as being a highly successful LAMDA coach she is also a theatre director and choreographer having worked on Singing in the Rain, The Producers, Oklahoma, Oliver and Aladdin.
Her many years of working as both a director and choreographer have helped build an amazing skill set to inspire her classes and teach children exactly what it takes to be a great performer.
Khiley teaches Early Stages, LAMDA, drama, dance (ballet, tap, jazz) & musical theatre.
KIERAN SEABROOK FRANCE
Best School of Acting Teacher​
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Kieran is a multi-talented professional in the entertainment industry. After graduating from Guildford School of Acting, he has shared his expertise by training numerous aspiring actors and guiding them in refining their skills across multiple aspects of performance.
In addition to teaching, Kieran has also founded an improvisation company.​
Kieran is also a professional actor himself, with extensive experience in stage, television, and film acting alongside his work in film production, establishing his own company to produce high-quality films that showcase his creative vision and talent, focusing on films that help raise awareness for important social issues.
​ELSIE FALLON​
Best School of Musical Theatre Principal
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Elsie is a performer and actress with a host of credits including shows for Netflix & the BBC and she often pops up on your screens in adverts for things like Walkers Crisps or Mecca Bingo.
Elsie graduated from London College of Music with a 1st Class Hons degree in Musical Theatre and has been performing since the age of 2. She loves theatre and has been lucky enough to be cast in wonderful roles at some amazing venues including The National Theatre & The Gordon Craig.
Elsie has spent the past decade teaching and principaling at other drama schools and says
“I am a so excited to start my next adventure with Best and can’t wait to meet you all. I love watching young people realise their potential and there seems nowhere better to do so than with the team at Best!”
AMY CORDINA
Best School of Musical Theatre Singing Teacher (St Albans), The Company Course Leader and Private Singing Teacher
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Amy Cordina is a Vocal Balance Accredited Vocal Coach and Disney Teaching Artist, originally from Malta and now based in the UK. She trained in Musical Theatre and Dance Teacher Training at MPAA, graduating in 2020. Alongside her teaching, she has performed in a range of genres internationally.
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Amy’s work focuses on building healthy, sustainable technique while encouraging confidence, emotional connection, and authentic storytelling. Known for her warm, fun, and encouraging approach, she offers a positive, supportive environment where singers feel empowered to progress at their own pace. Her lessons blend decluttered technical guidance with expressive development, allowing students to grow both vocally and artistically.
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With experience working with young actor-musicians, preparing seasoned performers for auditions, and guiding early-career artists, Amy provides structured, industry informed training tailored to each individual. Her background as a performer and her international perspective bring a vibrant, creative energy to her coaching. She firmly believes that, with the right support, singing can be transformative, confidence-building, and joyous.
​LILLIE-MAE STEWART​
Best School of Musical Theatre (Ware) Dance Teacher and Best Beginners (Ware) Teacher
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Lillie-Mae Stewart is a performer, choreographer and teacher, who at the age of 10, made her professional theatre debut playing Margaret Gormley in the West End's "Billy Elliot The Musical".
Other credits include: Beyoncé’s “RENAISSANCE - The Movement” music video (choreographed by Mecnun Giasar), Idina Menzel and Michael Buble's "Baby It's Cold Outside" music video, ITV's "Fool Britannia" (with actor Dom Joly), and London's West End production of "13 The Musical", playing the lead role of Kendra.
Lillie-Mae is an alumni of Italia Conti Theatre Arts School London (2020) and The Urdang Academy London (2023), where she gained a Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Theatre Arts, and a Level 6 Diploma in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre. Lillie-Mae is also a qualified first aider and safeguarding officer.
MOLLY TELLO
Best School of Musical Theatre (Ware) Singing Teacher and Private Singing Teacher
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Molly started performing at the age of 3 beginning with Ballet and since then has always known it was her love and passion. She began her career not long after in TV and Film, such as Holby City, Eastenders and Ali G The Movie, and hasn’t stopped since, always rehearsing for at least one show at a time.
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Working at Best is Molly’s weekly get away and bundle of happiness who says, “I love nothing more than watching the students at Best grow as not only performers but individuals too. I am proud to have worked as Bests Hertford singing teacher for over a year now and plan to stay for many years to come. Without the stage, life would be a whole lot duller.”
​​MOLLY FISCHER-JONES​
St Albans Best School of Musical Theatre Dance Teacher
Molly is an actor and dancer with a First Class BA (Hons) in Acting from Guildford School of Acting and more than twelve years of training in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and contemporary dance.
Molly's credits span stage plays (MACBETH dir Jaq Bessell; DYING FOR IT dir Nadia Papachronopoulou), screen acting (HY(WO)MEN pilot, production comp Donna The Fish; THE COMMONER television, production comp Paradox), and music videos (LOST IN IN dir Charlotte Conquest).
She is passionate about inspiring young performers, by creating fun, inclusive, and engaging classes where children can develop confidence, creativity, and strong technical foundations.
MIKE DENMAN
LAMDA Teacher
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With two decades in the industry, Mike has performed in Musicals in the West End and Number one UK Tours, TV, Film & Straight plays. As well as teaching LAMDA here at Best Mike also teaches at Several Performing arts colleges in London and also runs Musical Theatre Associate programmes all around the UK.
A selection of theatre credits include: Henry Ribelow in Syncopation (Vienna English Theatre)Trevor in Bedroom Farce (Gordon Craig Theatre) Pawnee Bill in Annie Get Your Gun (Crucible Theatre Sheffield), Don Lockwood in Singing In The Rain (Gordon Craig Theatre Stevenage) The Stalker in The Bodyguard (Original cast UK Tour), Henchman/understudy Mr Wormwood in Matilda RSC (Cambridge Theatre London), Jack Frost in Santa Claus (Grand Theatre Singapore), Understudy Polegrave in Nation (National Theatre London), The Wizard Of Oz (London Palladium), Understudy Jose in Never Forget (Savoy Theatre London), Understudy Billy Flynn in Chicago (Adelphi Theatre and Cambridge Theatre London), Gremio/understudy Bill Calhoun in Kiss me Kate (Original Cast UK Tour), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Shaftesbury Theatre London), Louis in On Your Toes (Royal Festival Hall) Understudy Double J and Guss in Saturday NightFever (Musical Dome Cologne Germany). Film and television include: William Hill online bingo commercial, Nation (NT Live Worldwide Broadcast), Paddington 2 and Beyond The Sea. Several award winning short films including -The Boy With A Camera For A Face, Saving Cain and Bluebird. Strictly Dance Fever (ITV) All Time Greatest Love Songs (BBC) and a few Royal Variety Performances.
​LOLLY PLATT​
Best School of Acting Teacher, The Company Movement and Drama Teacher, and Private Singing Teacher
Lolly works as an actor and facilitator and adores being able to create with young people. As an actor she works in a wide range of areas including voice acting, fringe theatre, cabarets, RnDs and rehearsed readings. She most recently worked a West End run at the Lyric Theatre and international tour with Tall Stories’ production ‘The Smeds and the Smoos’. With her roots in musical theatre, Lolly also works as a vocalist, dancer and choreographer - she particularly loved creating educational dance content with Oxford University Press.
Her current major focus is on physical theatre and puppetry; she adored training with Gecko and passes on what she continues to learn and discover to the students at Best.
Lolly is very proud to be working as an improv teacher, singing coach, and movement director/choreographer with the wonderful people at Best Theatre Arts.
Alongside her Assistance Dog, Koda, Lolly has a deep passion for accessibility in the arts. At the core of her teaching is a continuous reminder that young people can always belong in the arts, no matter their background or so-called ‘limitations’ and that they should be who they are unapologetically. She hopes that she can help young people communicate with more confidence, embrace themselves and others and learn that with restriction comes creativity.
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ELENI TRYFONOS​
Best School of Musical Theatre Acting Teacher
Eleni Tryfonos is a professional actor and singer with a First Class BA (Hons) in Acting from Rose Bruford College. Alongside her work in the industry, Eleni has extensive experience in teaching, helping her students to develop confidence, creativity, and strong performance skills in a fun and supportive environment. She has experience in teaching children of all ages in acting, public speaking, and musical theatre.
As a performer, Eleni’s professional credits include theatre, theatre in education, commercials, and pantomimes. She is passionate about inspiring young performers to use their imagination, take creative risks, and enjoy the process of storytelling. Her classes focus on building confidence, teamwork, and communication, whilst encouraging every child to find their own unique voice.
Eleni is excited to share her love of performance, and to create a positive, engaging space where every student can grow both on and off the stage.
​AMANDA ALEXANDER​
Best School of Musical Theatre (Ware) Acting Teacher
Amanda Alexander is a writer, actress, singer, voiceover artist and teaches Acting to degree students at Performers College.
She won a scholarship to train at Arts Ed, and has worked in the theatre and television industry for 25 years.
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Theatre credits include a national UK tour of God of Carnage with Richard E Grant, directed by Matthew Warchus; a one woman show touring the continent for a year; and several off-West End venues performing musicals and plays.
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Television credits include Doctor Who, The Bill and Silent Witness.
Amanda also became the first female narrator for multiple episodes of The National Geographic Wild Life series for Disney.
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Amanda is currently developing a brand new comedy musical that she wrote and is soon to be performed in a West end venue.
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TOM FLETCHER​
Best Youth Theatre Assistant Director & The Company Acting Coach
Tom has recently achieved a BA in Acting from Guildford School of Acting, following being a core member of Best Youth Theatre for years as a teenager and taking part in some our biggest and most successful productions including FIND A PARTNER! at The National Theatre and GONE at The Maltings Theatre.
Tom was a CAA Actors’ Prize Winner in 2026 and a recipient of the Sir Michael Redgrave Performance Scholarship. His recent professional credits include MACBETH at Sibiu Festival Romania (Lennox/Fight Director, dir Jaq Bessell); PETER PAN at The Minnack Theatre (Peter, dir Lynsey Wallace); EQUUS at The Barn Theatre (Alan Strang, dir Steve Thompson). Tom is an incredible young actor with a natural teaching talent he's keep to hone further assisting the youth theatre he's loved since he was twelve years old.​
